Curling For Dummies Cheat Sheet - dummies Curling For Dummies Cheat Sheet Curling For Dummies Cheat Sheet Cheat Sheet By Bob Weeks Curling has a rich history with many traditions that continue to this day. Though the origins of curling are unclear, most people regard Scotland as curling’s birthplace. Today, curling is played around the world, largely thanks to its introduction into the Olympics in 1988. Because curling can seem complicated if you don’t know a lot about it, these articles help to explain the basics, from curling terminology and the roles of each position on a team, to how scoring and other elements of the game work, and why curling is such a great sport to play. Curling Match Terminology Curling, probably more than any other sport, has its own unique terminology (like hurry hard and burning a rock, among others). Here are the key curling words and phrases you need to know to blend in at your next bonspiel: Blank end: An end where no points are scored. Bonspiel: A tournament in which curlers compete. Burning a rock: A rules infraction that happens when a player touches a stone as it’s traveling down the sheet.

Button: The very center of the target rings or house. Cashspiel: A tournament in which curlers compete for money. Delivery: The action of throwing a stone to the other end of the playing surface. Eight-ender: A perfect end where every one of the team’s stones scores a point. End: The way a curling game is divided. An end is like an inning in a baseball game. A curling game has either eight or ten ends. Gripper: The sole of one of your curling shoes. It helps you keep your footing on the ice. See slider. Hammer: The last rock of the end. Hack: The foothold in the ice you use to push off from when you deliver the stone. House: Also known as the rings, this is the name of the giant bull’s eye at either end of the sheet of ice. It consists of a set of concentric circles, called the 12-foot, 8-foot, 4-foot, and the Button. Hurry hard: A directive given to sweepers by the skip or third, to begin sweeping.

Rink: A curling team; also the name of a curling facility Rock: Also known as a stone, the granite playing utensil that a curler delivers. Regular-sized rocks weigh approximately 44 pounds. Sheet: The frozen playing surface on which the game is played. Slider: The sole of one of your curling shoes. It helps you move or slide along the ice. Tee line: The line on the playing surface that runs through the middle of the house. Weight: The amount of force used to deliver a stone. The Members of a Curling Team In curling, the team you play on is called a rink. The rink is made up of four players: the lead, the second, the third (also called the vice, vice-skip, or mate), and the skip. Each player has specific duties: Lead: The lead throws the first two rocks of the end and then sweeps the next six. The lead must be very good at throwing guards and a strong sweeper. Second: The second throws the third and fourth stones of the end and should be strong at playing takeouts. The second sweeps the first two stones and then the final four of the end.

The second and the lead need to be in sync when sweeping together. Third: The third (or mate or vice), who throws the fifth and sixth rocks of the end, must be good at all shots, but especially draws. It is the third’s job to set up the shots that will be thrown by the skip, and to help the skip discuss the strategy of the final two stones of the end. The third also posts the score at the conclusion of the end. Skip: The skip is the captain of the team and decides the strategy. It’s the skip’s job to tell the other players where to throw their shots and when to sweep. The skip also delivers the last two shots of the end. The skip must be good at all types of shots. Curling Game Basics What is this game of rocks and brooms all about? Curling is a sport in which two teams of four players each slide 40-pound granite rocks (also called stones) down a sheet of ice toward a target at the other end. Each team tries to get more of its stones closer to the center of the target than the other team. Read on for a complete breakdown of curling’s basic elements.

Throwing rocks: Each player on the team throws two stones in each end. (An end is similar to an inning in baseball.) Each team throws 8 stones in an end. The players alternate throwing with their opposite number, the player on the other team who plays the same position they do. Curling rocks: When you throw a rock down the ice, depending on its rotation — which is applied intentionally — it will curl, or bend, one way or another. How much (or little) a rock curls or bends, depends largely on the conditions of the playing surface. Sweeping: Sweeping makes a rock curl less and travel farther. The lead, second, and third all take turns sweeping the rocks. The skip, who is like the team’s quarterback, is the only one who doesn’t regularly sweep stones. Keeping score: Once all 16 rocks have been thrown down the narrow sheet of ice, the score for that end is counted based on the final positions of the stones in the house, (the group of circles on the ice that looks like a bull’s eye). Only one team can score in an end. A team scores one point for every rock that it has closer to the center of the house than the other team.

Strategy: Generally, the skip determines a rink’s strategy. During the game, the skip stands at one end of the sheet and tells his or her other three players where they should place their shots. A team’s strategy doesn’t always go according to plan! And that’s part of what makes curling so much fun. No two games are alike; the unpredictability is always appealing. Great Reasons to Try the Sport of Curling Why should you take up curling? People who curl seem to share a certain fun-loving attitude toward this winter pastime. Even at national and world championships, players in the middle of a high-stakes game have been known to share a few laughs. (Imagine seeing that at a hockey or football game!) Here are some of the best reasons to curl: You can play at any age. Both sexes can play. (And curling with your significant other can be a lot of fun!) The rules are easy to learn. You don’t have to pay a lot to play. Curling is good for your health. Curling is wheelchair accessible. Curling Facts, History and How to Play Things to consider when going curling: Teams are made of 4 people (each player throws 2 stones).

Two teams play against each other on one "sheet" (lane) of ice. Time can be saved by pre-arranging teams before you arrive. The four positions are: Lead: Goes first in the throwing order, then sweeps all the other team members' shots - usually has easier shots because there are few stones in play. Second: Throws second and sweeps all other team members' shots - has more difficult shots since some stones in play. Vice: Throws third, holds brush (target) for Skip, and sweeps only Lead's and Second's shots - has difficult shots as a lot of stones are usually in play. Skip: Throws last, holds brush for all other players, tells other players when to sweep, watches the "curl" of the stone - has most difficult shots as all other stones have already been played - team captain. You will need a warm sweater and a very, very clean pair of running shoes (not the shoes you walk through the parking lot with) as well as loose fitting pants and perhaps gloves (the idea is warmth with mobility). Stones, brushes, score sheets and special 'curling tape' (for use as a slider) will be provided for you.

How to Play: At the start of an end, and the game, the two Skips go down to the far house and begin to direct play for their teams (they are team captain). Each team alternates throwing with the other team one stone at a time. Each player throws two stones. When the Lead is delivering the Second and Vice are sweeping as the Skip watches the "line" (curl) of the stone. The sweepers judge the "weight" (how far the stone will travel) while the Skip will yell to them if the stone is curling too much. When the Second throws the Lead and Vice sweep and when the Vice throws and Lead and Second sweep. Finally, when the Skip throws the Vice watches the line from the Skip's position and the Lead and Second sweep. It is not nearly as confusing as it sounds! At the conclusion of an end the two Vices must agree on the score and it is marked on the scoreboard. (Measuring devices are used if the naked eye cannot determine which stone is closer.) At the conclusion of a game the teams shake hands and say "Good Curling".

Brief History of the Sport: While it is true that the sport of curling dates back to the 15th century, the modern version (Scottish style) originated in the early 17th century. The oldest Curling Club in North America is Royal Montreal Curling Club (1807). Curling was always played outdoors, usually on frozen lakes, until the 20th century. Curling was a demonstration sport in the Olympics 4 times (1924, 1932, 1992, 1994) before being admitted as a full medal sport in 1998. Canada has more curlers in total than any other country. See also, Windsor Curling Club History in Windsor, Ontario by Tedd Szalay. Facts & Finer Points: Curling is a game of etiquette - a game is always preceded by a handshake and the expression "Good Curling". Two teams play against each other on one "sheet" of ice and each game is started with a coin toss whereby the winner usually picks to go last.

There are four players on a curling team and each player delivers two stones (the four positions are Skip, Vice, Second, and Lead). At the conclusion of an "end" (most curling games are 8 end games; an end is similar to an inning in baseball) the score is determined for that end. A team receives one point for each stone closer to the "tee" (centre) than the opposition (only one team can score in any one end). The team that scores goes first in the next end. A stone must be 6 feet, or closer, to the tee to count for points (this area is called the "house" and is painted as a combination of circles with a total diameter of 12 feet). If no stones are in the house this is called a "blank end" and neither team scores (the team that last scored still goes first in the next end). A stone must cross the "hog line" but be no further than the "back line" to be in play. Curling is played on ice that is very level but has small "pebbles" (droplets of water).

The pebble is what the stones curl on (the stone comes into contact with the ice on its "running surface" and the friction, however mild, between the running surface and the pebble makes the stone curl). A curling stone weighs approximately 42 lbs. and is made of an especially unique type of granite, which is mined exclusively in Scotland. Curling stones are very expensive: one new stone would cost approximately $1000.00. A stone is delivered from the "hack" and must be released before the stone reaches the closer hog line. The "handle" (turn or spin) is placed on the stone at the point of release (the two turns are called the "in-turn" (clockwise to a right-handed thrower) and the "out-turn" (opposite). A player can re-throw providing the stone has not touched the closer tee line. Sweeping can make a stone go further (about 16 feet), make the stone curl less (run straighter), and cleans any debris from in front (if a stone hits even a tiny piece of debris it will usually curl right out of play). There is no way to slow down a stone or make it curl more.

You can sweep your team's stone from the point of release until it stops (you always have priority on your team's stones). You are allowed to sweep an oppositions stone once it reaches the far "tee line". The 3 basic shots in curling are the Draw (a stone that comes to rest in the house), a Guard (a stone that comes to rest short of the house and either protects a stone in the house or is put up first and then curled around later, and the Takeout (a stone with sufficient "weight" to go through the house). Continental Cup offers unique experience for competitors | Curling Canada All Posts / Our Championships / Continental Cup offers unique experience for competitors Continental Cup offers unique experience for competitors January 6, 2015 This week in Calgary at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, the World Financial Group Continental Cup , presented by SecurTek Monitoring Solutions, gets underway. Rivals become teammates under the unique format of the World Financial Group Continental Cup. (Photo, CCA/Michael Burns) I’ve played in two of these in the past, and I have to say they’re so different from our regular competitive events that it’s hard to describe.

We played in the December 2008 event in Camrose, Alta., and lost a close battle with the World team, and then easily dispatched our competition in January 2011 in St. Albert, Alta., an event I attended mere hours after getting home from my honeymoon. Those of us on the team like to call that event “The Stomping in St. Albert” (we won 298-102 under the old 400-point scoring system, easily the highest ever). There are many strange aspects of the event. For one, it feels way more important than it probably is. Most curling fans can’t recite how many Continental Cups you’ve won or even played in, unlike the total Brier, World or Olympic titles on your resumé. However, when you’re competing at a Continental Cup, you feel like you HAVE to win, like your week is going to be ruined if you’re not lifting the trophy at the end of the week. Nolan Thiessen, left, and Carter Rycroft scrub a rock during the 2011 World Financial Group Continental Cup in St. Alberta, Alta.

(Photo CCA/Michael Burns) One of the reasons for this is that curling teams are used to travelling with three other players and competing with those guys week in and week out. The best teams are the ones that want to win for each other as much as they want to win for themselves. But when we gather with our teammates at a Continental Cup, there are five other teams to go along with the three guys you’re used to playing with. Instead of wanting to win for the other three guys on your team, now you want to win for the other 23 players on your team. That adds pressure to you as a player, but also makes it more rewarding when you win. If you don’t think it matters, just look at the teams when the deciding points are won this week — you’re going to have 24 players jumping up and down like they just won the lottery. Another twist that teams must get used to is cheering for teams we’re normally trying to beat. I wrote on this blog earlier this summer about how most teams are good friends off the ice despite being fierce competitors on it. We get along with most of the other teams but you won’t see many of us cheering for them in the stands at an event.

This week, however, we will be on the bench for every game and cheering for McEwen and Jacobs like we’re freshmen walk-ons on a 14-seed in March Madness, sniffing an upset over Duke. It’s unusual but at the same time enjoyable for one weekend to be able to cheer for those teams we normally battle tooth and nail with. If you really want to know how strange it is, ask our team Captain Randy Ferbey what it was like to cheer for Kevin Martin at the inaugural event in 2002? For Randy, that would have been akin to cheering for the Soviets in the ’72 Summit Series. The event this year is the first under the new format where Canada is on our own, with no help from our neighbours to the south — just the pride of the Maple Leaf. After playing in enough international competitions, I know that for teams in Europe the only thing better than winning is winning against Canada. We have always been the gold standard for curling, so hanging losses on us feels extra special. We in the Team Canada dressing room need to use that as motivation to match their intensity and ensure that they get on their flights back to Europe disappointed.

For the fans in attendance in Calgary and those watching at home across Canada, there’s the potential for some interesting matchups this week. On both the men’s and women’s sides, there are potential rematches of the Olympic finals from last February in Sochi as Brad Jacobs could line up against David Murdoch of Scotland and Jennifer Jones will probably end up battling Margaretha Sigfridsson at some point. I know for Pat, Carter and myself, we would love to get a crack at Thomas Ulsrud and three-fourths of Niklas Edin’s teams to pay them back for knocking us out of the gold-medal hunt at the Worlds in China last year. The Mixed Doubles is always interesting for fans, with men and women playing together and, this year, with the added intrigue of when Mike and Dawn McEwen put their relationship on the line by battling on the same team. Will they be able to co-exist as well on the ice as they do off of it? What happens when Mike misses a shot and gets the looks of not only teammate disappointment but one of a disappointed wife? Happy Wife Happy Life is going to be taken to a whole new level in Calgary.

I think Mike is going to stand on his head in their game; no man wants that look of disappointment from his wife, so there should be minimal tension in the team room that night when they are done. All in all, it is going to be a special week in Calgary. Putting the Maple Leaf on is always exciting and it will hopefully bring the best out of all six teams wearing it. What will put us over the top is having a full house at the Markin MacPhail Arena. Let’s have flags flying, faces painted, fans going crazy for every Canadian made shot. Let’s fill the house and get loud and give us that little extra energy on the ice that will hopefully be enough to give us the first ever three-peat in Continental Cup history! (Nolan Thiessen is a two-time Canadian champion who plays lead for Team John Morris, AKA Team Canada, who will be competing in the 2015 World Financial Group Continental Cup , presented by SecurTek Monitoring Solutions, Jan. 8-11 in Calgary; and the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier , presented by SecurTek Monitoring Solutions, Feb. 28-March 8 in Calgary).

The Curling School by CurlTech Section 1 Overview of the Sport Description Curling is a team sport played on ice. The sport, which is now an Olympic medal sport, probably originated in the 1500's on the lakes and ponds of Northern Europe. Two teams of four players each slide 42-pound granite rocks down a sheet of ice 140 feet long by 15 feet wide (see Figure 1.1). The rocks are delivered from one end of the sheet to the other toward the center of a 12-foot diameter target. Curling is played actively in more than thirty countries in Europe, Asia, North America, New Zealand and Australia. The majority of players live in Scotland, Canada and the United States. It is mostly played indoors at dedicated curling facilities housing multiple sheets (lanes) of ice. Curling can be enjoyed by nearly all age groups for social play and high-level competition such as the Olympic Games. Curling awareness has increased dramatically since the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and the Games in Torino, Italy in 2006 where media coverage of the sport dramatically increased in the United States.

Many teams are preparing for competition in the Winter Games in Vancouver, BC in 2010. Object of the Game The object of the game is to score as many rocks as possible by throwing them closest to the center of the 12-foot ring. The targets are painted into the ice just below the surface at both ends of the sheet of ice, to allow the game to be played back and forth, usually eight or ten times. Each player throws two rocks toward the target, alternating with the opponent. Rocks traveling down the ice will curve anywhere from six inches to six feet. After all sixteen rocks have been thrown the score is determined. Teams score one point for each rock closest to the center of the house without an opponent's rock closer. In each end (similar to an inning in baseball), only one team can score. A unique part of curling is the concept of sweeping. Players vigorously sweep, or brush the ice in front of the rock to keep it moving. The friction (and resulting heat) of the brooms momentarily melts a molecular layer of the ice in front of the rock. This thin layer lubricates the bottom of the rock allowing it to travel farther and straighter.

The Playing Area Some History As mentioned earlier, the game originated on the frozen lochs of Western Europe several hundred years ago. There was a point in curling history where temporary enclosures were placed around the curling section of the frozen lake. This was done to protect the curlers from the elements. Ice that is formed by cold air is known as "natural" ice. For natural ice to occur, obviously the temperature must be below 0 C (32 degree F). This limited the growth of curling to the northern latitudes. When the sport finally came to North America (early 1800's), it was primarily played in Canada, where the winter temperatures were consistently below freezing. In the early 1900's, refrigeration technology allowed ice to be prepared in regions where winter temperatures are often above 32 degree . This ice is known as "artificial" ice. Almost all curling facilities now have artificial ice, which allows curling to thrive in lower latitudes. Artificial ice is produced using a process of compressing ammonia or Freon® and then allowing it to expand and cool. This cooling process removes heat from the playing surface, lowering the temperature, and creating ice.

This is done by running cooling pipes under the playing surface. The pipes are usually four inches apart, run the length of each sheet, and carry cold liquid chilled by the ammonia or Freon. A four-sheet club has approximately six miles of pipe under the ice. Artificial ice allows people to curl in warm climates as well. The refrigeration compressor is driven by one or more large capacity electric motors. These motors draw an enormous amount of electricity. To date, dedicated curling facilities in warm climates (35 degrees North latitude and below) are essentially non-existent. Curling in these climates usually happens at ice rinks that share ice time with skaters, hockey players and curlers. The Sheet The modern sheet of ice is approximately fifteen feet wide by about 140 feet long. Rubber "hacks" are placed in the ice for foot traction during for delivering the rocks. Figure 1.1 Sheet Dimensions The Hog Line The hog line has two functions. The far hog line serves as the leading edge of the area "in play" meaning rocks must fully cross the hog line to stay in play during the end.

The nearer hog line serves as the farthest edge of the delivery release point meaning all rocks must be released before they touch the near hog line. Anecdotal Explanation The name hog line comes from an old shepherding term. The line of slow-moving sheep at the trailing edge of the pack was referred to as the as the hog line, meaning they were as slow as hogs. This line of sheep was the farthest back a sheep could be and still be part of the group. You can draw the distant similarity. In curling, it's the farthest point a rock can be from the center and still be in play. As players began to slide in delivery (1940s and 50s) rules were put in place to prevent a player from sliding the entire length and placing the rock in house. The near hog line seemed to be a suitable spot. Starting in the 1950s, the body was not allowed to cross the hog line during the delivery. In 1973, the international organization wrote the rule stating the rock must be released before it touches the hog line and the body would be allowed to slide past it.

Today, the rock is removed from play if it touches the hog line prior to release. The Ice From a distance, curling ice appears perfectly smooth. After a closer look, you'll notice that the ice appears bumpy. The rocks ride on these small frozen bumps called "pebble". The pebble is put on before each game with a machine that works like a flower sprinkler. Without the pebble, there would be too much friction between the ice and the rocks, making it too difficult to throw the rocks the full distance. Pebble is what makes curling a "finesse game". The ice is maintained between games by sweeping off debris and scraping the surface two or three times a week. A special scraping machine is manufactured just for curling ice. The resurfacing machine removes the build-up of pebble and any frost that has settled before new pebble is applied. Occasionally, due to the uneven freezing of the surface, the entire area is flooded and allowed to freeze slowly. This levels the ice and is done about every six weeks. It is very difficult to prepare a perfectly level ice surface.

Even though most imperfections can't be seen, the way the rocks behave while in motion may indicate the presence of ridges and troughs. This is part of the game. Skips must determine what the sheets are like as early as possible, similar to "reading" the green in golf. The ice surface temperature is maintained somewhere in the 22-25 degree range. In some cases, sophisticated equipment is used to measure and maintain these temperatures. The Air The air temperature in some clubs is controlled. The ideal air temperature at chest level is around 40 degree F. Not only is it comfortable for the curlers, the heat keeps the relative humidity lower so frost won't build up on the ice. Some clubs have dehumidification systems. This further decreases the relative humidity. Lower latitude clubs with no heating capabilities usually have frost problems. Higher latitude clubs with no heat are very cold. The Curling Team Teams are made up of four players. Each player throws two rocks, alternating with the opponent. The first position is known as the Lead and throws the first two rocks. The second position is known as the Second and throws the second two. The third position is known as the Vice Skip and throws the third two rocks.

The fourth position is known as the Skip (calls each shot and is the team captain) and throws the last two rocks. The skip controls the game by determining all of the shots and developing the game strategy. Since the rocks curl as they travel down the ice, the throwers must aim at a point other than the intended resting point. The skip is responsible for providing an aiming point. He or she places the broom upright, directly over the desired aiming point. The skip is also responsible for determining whether sweeping is necessary and communicating this to the sweepers* The use of a team coach is becoming more popular. Curling coaches are required to "passively coach" the team. Rules state that the coach cannot interact with the team during play. Even with the existence of a team coach, the skip must call all of the shots. Coaches generally communicate before, after and in some cases, during a break half way through the game. Time-outs are another opportunity for coaches to intervene. * There are certain instances when the skip is not responsible for determining sweeping. (See the Sweeping section) Types of Shots Essentially, there are only two types of curling shots, the draw and the takeout. There are many variations of these two shots, however.

Draws are shots that are only thrown hard enough only to reach the field of play at the other end. Takeouts are designed to remove rocks from play. As mentioned earlier, we intentionally rotate the rocks as we throw them. These rotations are called turns. A clockwise rotation (for a right handed person) is called an In-turn while a counter-clockwise rotation is called an Out-turn. The names originally come from the direction your elbow took as you were throwing. (the elbow pointed out as you rotated the out-turn and vice versa). This is no longer appropriate because the elbow shouldn't move at all but the names remain.

Below is a list of possible draw shots: Open Draw a rock thrown into an empty house Center Guard a rock thrown short of the house to be used as protection Corner guard a rock short of the house and off to the side Come around any draw shot that curls around another rock Raise Tapping a front guard into the house Tap back a heavier weight draw designed to push another rock back but not out of the house Freeze a draw that comes to rest touching another rock Corner-freeze a draw that comes to rest on the edge of another rock Below is a list of possible takeout shots: Normal a takeout thrown with enough weight to firmly remove another rock (a normal takeout undisturbed should hit the back wall and bounce back about a foot) Hack Weight Hit a takeout thrown with enough weight to gently remove another rock (a hack weight takeout undisturbed should come to rest at the back wall) Peel a takeout thrown with very hard weight to remove rocks from play (undisturbed peel weight shots should hit the back wall and bounce back several feet) Hit & Roll a takeout that, after making contact with another rock, rolls to a designated place Tick/Chip a takeout thrown to hit another rock thin enough to move it to the side without removing

 it from play The Skip's Signals and How to Interpret Them All shots called by the skip have an associated hand or arm signal.

Hand signals were developed due to the length of the sheet of ice (the option is to scream to other players at the other end). Also, many curling clubs are so loud that talking is difficult. Skip's signal can vary dramatically. Listed below are the most common signals used. There are two basic types: 1. Signals to determine the shot Tapping the ice with the broom (intended resting point) Right arm extended (in turn for right-handers) Left arm extended (out turn for right-handers) Tapping the rock with the broom (intended takeout target) 2. Signals to determine the weight Tapping the hack with broom (intended weight) Touching the arm at the wrist, elbow or shoulder Touching the upper body at the waist, chest and neck The Game Flow Games consist of either eight or ten "ends" depending on the level of competition. League and bonspiel games are generally eight ends while play leading to a national or world championship would be ten ends. An end in curling is similar to an inning in baseball. Each end takes approximately fifteen minutes, so an eight end game would generally take two hours to play.

Each game, the teams are assigned a sheet of ice (similar to a lane in bowling) at the curling club. Curling clubs have anywhere from two sheets to eight sheets of ice. Pre-Game Routine The game begins with a handshake. It is customary for each player to shake hands with each opposing player and each teammate. Shake hands with the opponent first. We teach the kids to shake hands in our junior programs. The W.E.ST. Technique is a good handshake method for juniors AND adults. W eb T wo Web When reaching out for the handshake, make sure the webs (area between the thumb and index finger) of each hand make contact. Eye Contact Remember the color of their eyes. Solid Use a solid grip that is firm but not overpowering. This can be used for men and women. Two Shake two times. Practice Slides In league games, it is customary to NOT practice. Most curlers take a few "practice slides" before throwing the first rock. This is done by sliding out of the hack area with no rock. Do not throw rocks prior to any game unless it is specifically mentioned in the league rules.

Practice slides help limber-up the body (pre-game stretching is also recommended, see the Delivery section) prior to throwing the first rock. In championship games, a short pre-game practice is allowed, generally ten minutes per team. The Coin Toss The vice skips on each team toss a coin to determine who has the last rock advantage in the first end. In most cases the winner of the coin toss chooses to throw the last rock, the loser of the toss chooses the rock color. Beginning of the Game At this point, the skips move to the opposite end of the ice and the team not delivering moves between the hog lines. The skip calls the shot, the first rock is thrown, and the game is on. Note: In many clubs, the rocks are numbered from one to eight. Unless told otherwise, the lead should throw rocks number one and two, the second throws three and four and so on. Each player will throw two stones per end, alternating with the opponent. Your team throws one, the opposing team throws one, and so on. As the lead is throwing, the second and vice are designated sweepers, with the skip calling the shots. When the second is throwing, the lead and vice are the sweepers.

When the vice is throwing, the lead and seconds are sweeping. When it comes time for the skips to throw, the vice skip takes over responsibility of the house and calls all sweeping for direction. The lead and second remain as the sweepers for the skip's shots. Yes, the lead and second sweep more than the vice, and the skip doesn't sweep at all. Position of Players Understanding where to position yourself on the ice is critical to team performance as well as playing by the rules. The leads and seconds must position themselves between the hog lines unless they are about to sweep or about to deliver a rock. If you are about to deliver a rock, position yourself behind the hack and remain quiet and still as your opponent delivers. As soon as the opponent delivers the rock, choose your rock and move into the hack area. While the opponent's rock is still in motion, begin the setup process in the hack (described in the Delivery section). If you are about to sweep, position yourself on the tee line approximately two feet from the sideline. Confirm the shot and weight with the thrower. As your teammate begins to deliver, start moving forward and to the center trying to "meet" the rock near the hog line.

At this point you may begin sweeping the rock if necessary. When you have stopped sweeping, return to the other end of the ice. Be sure not to walk down the center of the sheet, preventing the opponent from viewing. As you are walking back, try not to distract the opponent in the hack. If time permits, stop and remain still while the opponent is delivering. Completing the End Once all sixteen rocks have come to rest, the vice skips from each team agree on how many rocks are counting and to which team they belong. Only one team can score in an end and the most any team can score is eight. Occasionally, when the counting rock or rocks can't be determined by the naked eye, a special measuring device is used (see the Measuring Rocks section). Normal scoring in an end may be one, two, three or even four rocks. Scores of five, six and seven are much less common. Scoring all eight rocks is as rare as a hole-in-one in golf and many players never see one. Scoring Having last rock in any end is clearly an advantage. It's called having the "hammer". The hammer in the first end is determined before the game by a coin toss, generally by the vice skips.

In championship play, the hammer is evenly but randomly assigned. After each end, when all sixteen rocks have come to rest, one team will score one point for every rock it has closest to the center. Only one team can score in an end. The scoring team gives up the hammer in the next end. If no team scores in an end, either deliberately or by accident, the hammer is retained. The vice skip of the scoring team is responsible for posting the score after each end. On the curling scoreboard, numbers 1 through 16 (possibly 17, 18, 19 etc.) are painted horizontally from left to right. These numbers represent the rocks scored. At one end of the scoreboard, there is a stack of individual numbers from 1 to 10. These represent the ends and are hung either over or under the painted numbers. Since teams throw different colored rocks, the ends are hung above or below the painted numbers depending on color. In curling, the rocks scored are posted cumulatively, meaning two rocks scored in the second end are added to whatever was scored in the first end (if any). The team scoring in the end throws first in the next end.

This means that the scoring team will never have last rock advantage after just scoring. Finishing the Game At the completion of the game, it is customary to again shake hands with your opponents and your teammates. It is now time for broomstacking. Most curling clubs have some sort of gathering area for broomstacking teams. There will usually be table set up behind each sheet of ice designated for this. Conceding the Game Curling is one of only a few sports that allow a team to concede before the end of the game. It is customary to concede the game if you think the lead is insurmountable, even if it is mathematically possible to still win or tie. Of course if it is mathematically impossible to tie or win, the game is over and the losing team should immediately shake hands. Game Speed Most people find that fifteen minutes per end is a comfortable pace for the game. In fact, most league schedules and game times rely on this. Slow play not only delays the following games, it allows players to get bored and/or cold. It is important to be ready to throw when it is your turn.

Timed Games At all championship level games and in some bonspiels, time clocks are used to control the speed of the games. The reason for time clocks is to prevent one team from taking enormous amounts of time to call the game. The clock is similar to a chess clock and each team has 73 minutes (146 minutes total) to complete a ten end game. Teams out of time lose the game. The clock begins at the start of the forward motion of the rock and stops when the skip or acting skip is clear of the playing area. Skips should note that even if your rock has come to rest, the clock would continue to run until you completely give way to the opposing skip. It is necessary for the lead and second to be ready to play when the opponent's rock comes to rest. This is a noticeable difference in the pace of the game. Teams under the clock no longer have the luxury of casually moving into the hack and taking their time. The pace at the beginning of end is usually faster than the pace at the end due to the vice skips and skips discussing the shots. The faster the leads and second are, the more time the back end has to discuss the strategy.

Equipment Equipment for Curlers Curling equipment comes in a range of complexity and cost. The only essential items are a "slider" and a "broom". A slider is a piece of Teflon®, plastic or steel that is slipped onto one foot in order to easily slide down the sheet of ice. The modern game of curling is designed around the ability to slide with no effort. The other foot usually wears a rubber-soled shoe used to grip the ice. To throw the rock, one foot pushes while the other slides. Right-handed curlers push with their right foot and slide on their left. The broom or brush is used to sweep the ice (polish it, actually) and most curling clubs have brooms available for use. See the Advanced Equipment section for the CurlTech choice on purchasing a broom More advanced curlers may choose to purchase special curling shoes with a built-in slider. See the Advanced Equipment section for the CurlTech recommendation for curling shoes. There are many manufacturers of curling equipment in the United States and Canada. Most veteran curlers choose to have their own curling equipment; shoes, brooms, special curling gloves, pants, jackets, etc. The list of equipment types and styles is endless.

Consult your local curling trainer or curling professional for advice on appropriate equipment. Equipment for the Curling Club Curling facilities own a variety of equipment that directly affect to the game. Refrigeration System The most expensive and complex equipment in the club is the refrigeration system used to make artificial ice. Heating, dehumidification and water purification systems are also complex and expensive. Rocks The next most critical piece of equipment is the rocks. They are made from solid chunks of special, high-density granite found in Wales and Scotland. Earlier rocks came from an island off the Scotland coast called Ailsa Craig. The island's best granite is called "blue hone". Blue hone granite is very dense and lasts long as a running surface. Unfortunately, they have a tendency to break or chip near the striking band. A better striking rock is a Trefor (pronounced Trevor) quarried in Wales but its running surface wears quicker and can pit, causing irregular movement. The best rocks today are Trefor granite with blue hone inserted as the running surface. The cost of a rock is between $300.00 and $500.00! With proper care, they can last many decades.

Se the Field of Play section for more detail on rocks. Misc. Club Equipment The Members of a Curling Team - dummies The Members of a Curling Team The Members of a Curling Team The Members of a Curling Team Part of Curling For Dummies Cheat Sheet In curling, the team you play on is called a rink. The rink is made up of four players: the lead, the second, the third (also called the vice, vice-skip, or mate), and the skip. Each player has specific duties: Lead: The lead throws the first two rocks of the end and then sweeps the next six. The lead must be very good at throwing guards and a strong sweeper. Second: The second throws the third and fourth stones of the end and should be strong at playing takeouts. The second sweeps the first two stones and then the final four of the end. The second and the lead need to be in sync when sweeping together. Third: The third (or mate or vice), who throws the fifth and sixth rocks of the end, must be good at all shots, but especially draws.

It is the third’s job to set up the shots that will be thrown by the skip, and to help the skip discuss the strategy of the final two stones of the end. The third also posts the score at the conclusion of the end. Skip: The skip is the captain of the team and decides the strategy. It’s the skip’s job to tell the other players where to throw their shots and when to sweep. The skip also delivers the last two shots of the end. The skip must be good at all types of shots. A beginner's guide to curling, the world's best sport. | Sports on Earth A curling sheet, via Wikimedia Commons Teams are made up of four players. Each team alternates sliding 42 pound stones (also called rocks because they're made of dense granite) from one end of the sheet to the other, both shooting the same direction. The thing that looks like a dart board is called the "house" and the bullseye is the "button" (this game is so delightfully homey and non-threatening; the whole premise of the sport is sliding stones slowly). There are a bunch of lines to keep things organized.

The line that runs down the center of the sheet from one end to the other is reasonably called the centre line. A stone must stop between the hog line (21 feet in front of the center [sorry, centre] of the house) and the back line (you got this one) to remain in play. The tee line runs through the button perpendicular to the centre line. I imagined it was given this name because it makes a "T" with the centre line. That might not be true, but it makes sense. The last technical thing you need to know is the free guard zone. On the image above, this is the green-ish highlighted area from the hog line to the teeline, but doesn't include the house. This zone exists because the first four rocks thrown (the term is "thrown" even though nobody throws 42 pound stones at each other) cannot be removed from the free guard zone. If they are hit, the rock is replaced and the shot doesn't count with no redo. How Scoring Works There are 10 ends, which are like innings, where each team alternates throwing eight stones each. The object of this flawless game is to have the closest stones to the button when an end finishes.

Scoring is very simple, even though it may sound a bit convoluted at first. You get a point for each stone closer to the button than any of the other team's stones. Only stones inside the house count. So if the Red team has two stones closer to the button than Yellow team's closest stone, Red scores two points. Some basic logic that follows from this: only one team can score per end, but if neither team has a stone in the house, neither team gets points in what is called a blank end. Strategy There are three main types of shots: guards, draws and takeouts. Guards block the house. Draws are designed to get around the guards and land in the house. Draws will often have really nifty curls, leading you to believe your high school physics teacher was a dirty liar. Takeouts are hard shots that knock other stones out of play. There are a litany of terms for good throws that accomplish several things at once, such as: double roll-in split, double takeout, draw raise, raise takeout, etc. Just know that Olympic curlers are masters at using stones like billiard balls.

Many tutorials describe curling as a "game of strategy, tactics and skill" which offers no helpful distinction whatsoever. Strategy is curling's most interesting element. Teams have to plot how to get their stones into the house while still maintaining guards so the other team can't execute a takeout easily or shoot their stone even closer to the button. (Remember what I said earlier about gibberish?) Because you're super-observant, you're probably thinking that the last shot of each end is incredibly valuable. You're right! That's why the last shot of each end is called the hammer, easily the most violent term used in curling. To keep things fair, the previous end's loser gets the hammer. via Wikimedia Commons Although this isn't a perfect analogy, the team with the hammer is kind of like the team in football with possession. Technically speaking, either team can score, but it's far more likely the team with the hammer will, and they'll adjust their strategy by playing more aggressively, trying to keep the four-foot zone free (shown at right), shoot lots of draws towards the button, or set up corner guards so they have a way to get a stone into the house with the hammer.

When a team has the hammer, one point is generally considered a failure. If it looks like they might only gain one point, they will often try to "blank the end" by ensuring no stones are in the house. This way, nobody gets any points and they retain the hammer and can try again the following end. Most people think of curling as the sport with sweeping. Indeed, it is fairly comical to hear the skip shout instructions at sweepers about 100 feet away in a perfectly quiet arena, but the strategy of sweeping is fairly obvious. The dudes with the brooms allow teams to have some influence over a stone's movement after the delivery, but suffice it to say: generally speaking, if the stone has too much weight, they won't sweep. Although a lot more can be said here, the most intriguing part of curling is how varied the strategies can be. There's rarely a "right" thing to do and ends can evolve very differently. Some ends will be takeout after takeout, others will involve a crowded house with several guards, requiring elaborate draws or takeouts. Ultimately, curling is a game about the flawless execution of a plan.

As far as sports go, there isn't a whole lot of room for luck. What countries are good at curling? Since it is a game played on ice, Canada is obviously the best, winning gold at the last two Olympics. The game was invented in the United Kingdom, so they're pretty good, too. The rest of the semi-competitive teams shouldn't surprise anyone: Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Denmark. China, the United States, Germany and Russia round out the men's top 10 in the World Curling Federation rankings . The women's rankings are very similar. The following countries try to be good at curling but fail: Ukraine, Mongolia, Liechtenstein, Kosovo, Israel and Georgia. A for effort, gang. You've convinced me. Curling is the greatest sport on the planet. When will it be on? The short answer is: when you're normally sleeping. Qualifications start Monday, Feb. 10th and run every day until the 17th with start times of 12 a.m., 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

The semifinals for both men's and women's are the 19th, the women's final is the 20th at 8:30 a.m., and the men's final is the 21st at 8:30 a.m.. Yes, it is unfortunate that curling will mostly be played while you're sleeping. That's another great aspect of curling: It's very, very hard to have a curling match spoiled since so few people watch or care about it. Fire up those DVRs people. Curling's back!

Question: How many players are there in a curling team
Answer: Four